Best counties to raise a family in Montana
Best counties to raise a family in Montana
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Montana using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Stillwater County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 9,052
- Median household income: $81,503
- Median home value: $355,600
- Top places to live: Columbus (C+), Absarokee (C+), Reed Point (C)
#24. Valley County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 7,540
- Median household income: $64,515
- Median home value: $198,600
- Top places to live: Glasgow (B-), Nashua (B-), Fort Peck (C+)
#23. Pondera County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 6,012
- Median household income: $53,500
- Median home value: $179,200
- Top places to live: Conrad (B), Valier (C+), Heart Butte (D)
#22. Custer County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 11,938
- Median household income: $63,585
- Median home value: $204,200
- Top places to live: Miles City (B-)
#21. Ravalli County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 45,807
- Median household income: $71,323
- Median home value: $435,000
- Top places to live: Hamilton (B-), Florence (B-), Pinesdale (B-)
#20. Blaine County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (D-), cost of living (B), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 6,997
- Median household income: $65,050
- Median home value: $124,900
- Top places to live: Chinook (B-), Harlem (C+), Hays (C-)
#19. Park County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 17,484
- Median household income: $66,607
- Median home value: $429,700
- Top places to live: Livingston (B), Gardiner (B), Emigrant (B-)
#18. Richland County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 11,329
- Median household income: $69,578
- Median home value: $259,000
- Top places to live: Sidney (B-), Crane (B+), Savage (C+)
#17. Hill County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 16,260
- Median household income: $55,313
- Median home value: $187,600
- Top places to live: Havre (B-), Rudyard (B), Beaver Creek (C-)
#16. Madison County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 8,975
- Median household income: $67,420
- Median home value: $440,500
- Top places to live: Sheridan (B), Ennis (B-), Virginia City (C+)
#15. Silver Bow County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 35,589
- Median household income: $57,504
- Median home value: $223,500
- Top places to live: Butte (B-), Walkerville (C+)
#14. Toole County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 5,028
- Median household income: $53,693
- Median home value: $187,400
- Top places to live: Shelby (B-), Sunburst (B-), Kevin (unavailable)
#13. Fergus County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 11,581
- Median household income: $59,731
- Median home value: $202,700
- Top places to live: Lewistown (C+), Winifred (B-), Roy (C+)
#12. Rosebud County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C-), cost of living (B-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 8,236
- Median household income: $56,430
- Median home value: $188,900
- Top places to live: Colstrip (B+), Forsyth (B), Ashland (C-)
#11. Teton County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 6,291
- Median household income: $67,766
- Median home value: $235,500
- Top places to live: Fairfield (B+), Choteau (B), Power (B-)
#10. Flathead County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 108,445
- Median household income: $71,327
- Median home value: $467,700
- Top places to live: Whitefish (B+), Evergreen (B-), Kalispell (B-)
#9. Chouteau County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 5,888
- Median household income: $56,927
- Median home value: $185,100
- Top places to live: Fort Benton (B+), Geraldine (B), Big Sandy (B-)
#8. Beaverhead County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 9,590
- Median household income: $58,072
- Median home value: $282,000
- Top places to live: Dillon (B+), Lima (C)
#7. Lake County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 32,073
- Median household income: $61,965
- Median home value: $369,200
- Top places to live: Polson (B-), Woods Bay (A-), St. Ignatius (B-)
#6. Yellowstone County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 167,340
- Median household income: $74,400
- Median home value: $317,600
- Top places to live: Billings (B), Laurel (B-), Lockwood (C+)
#5. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 12,501
- Median household income: $76,576
- Median home value: $408,000
- Top places to live: Boulder (B+), Clancy (B+), Montana City (B)
#4. Cascade County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 84,601
- Median household income: $66,203
- Median home value: $243,300
- Top places to live: Great Falls (B), Belt (B), Fort Shaw (B)
#3. Missoula County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (D+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 119,639
- Median household income: $71,246
- Median home value: $423,100
- Top places to live: Missoula (B+), East Missoula (B), Orchard Homes (B)
#2. Lewis and Clark County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 72,580
- Median household income: $74,543
- Median home value: $358,200
- Top places to live: Helena (B+), East Helena (B-), Augusta (C+)
#1. Gallatin County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (D), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 122,194
- Median household income: $87,454
- Median home value: $604,900
- Top places to live: Bozeman (A), Four Corners (A-), King Arthur Park (B)
